Cable trough cover

ABSTRACT

A cable trough cover assembly and method of assembly including a cover plate and a hinge piece. The cover plate includes a pivot member along at least one edge, and the hinge piece defines a pocket for releasably receiving the pivot member. The pocket and pivot member arrangement allow the cover plate to be rotated relative to a cable trough to which the hinge pieces may be mounted.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/910,418,filed Jul. 20, 2001 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,810,191, which application isincorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention pertains to systems for the management and routing ofoptical fiber cables and other cables.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the telecommunications industry, the use of optical fibers for signaltransmission is accelerating. With the increased utilization of opticalfiber systems, optical fiber cable management requires industryattention. Other telecommunications cables, including copper-basedcables benefit from increased attention on cable management.

One area where cable management is necessary is the routing of cablesfrom one piece of equipment to another. For example, in atelecommunications facility, optical fiber cables may be routed betweenfiber distribution equipment and optical line terminating equipment. Inbuildings and other structures which carry such equipment, the cablerouting can take place in concealed ceiling areas or in any other mannerto route cables from one location to another.

When routing cables, it is desirable that any routing system will bereadily modifiable and adaptable to changes in equipment needs.Accordingly a routing system is not practical which would require a highcapital outlay and which could not be readily adapted to changes in acustomer's needs. Namely, if routing paths, once established, areforever fixed, the system cannot adapt. Also, and perhaps mostimportant, any routing system must protect cables from damage. In theuse of optical fibers, it is recognized that the fibers should not bendbeyond a minimum radius of curvature. For example, it is commonlyrecognized that optical fibers should not be bent in a radius of lessthan 1.5 inches.

Current cable management systems typically comprise cable troughs havinga base and sidewalls. It is often advantageous to include a cover overthe trough to prevent dust and other unwanted objects from falling intoand damaging the cables in the trough. There is a need, however, forimproved cable trough covers which allow easy access to the cables inthe trough yet still protect the cables from damage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the present invention relates to a cover and hingeassembly including a cover plate and a hinge member. The cover plateincludes a pivot member along at least one edge. The hinge memberdefines a pocket for receiving the pivot member of the cover plate sothat the pivot member may be rotated within the pocket, allowing thecover plate to be rotated relative to the hinge member. The pocket issized to allow the hinge member to be snap-fit into and out of the hingemember.

A trough cover of the preferred embodiment is versatile so that the samecover may be pivoted in either direction. A connecting piece functionsas a hinge or latch as the cover is pivoted.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to a cover for coveringa cable trough. The cover includes at least one parallel pivot postalong each opposite edge of the cover. The cover defines at least oneaperture along each pivot post.

A further aspect of the present invention relates to a hinge piece forhingedly mounting a cover plate with a pivot member to a cable trough.The hinge piece includes two arms coupled by a middle member to form aU-shaped recess. The hinge piece defines a detent pocket for releasablyreceiving the pivot member.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to a cable trough andcover assembly including a cable trough, a cover plate, and a hingepedestal. The cover plate includes a pivot member along one edge. Thehinge pedestal includes a base portion secured to a base of the cabletrough and an extending body which defines a pocket for releasablyreceiving the pivot member of the cover plate and allowing the coverplate to be rotated relative to the trough.

Yet another aspect of the present invention relates to a cable troughassembly including a cable trough, two cover plates, and two hingepieces. The cover plates include pivot members along at least one edge.The hinge pieces are positioned on sidewalls of the trough. The hingepieces each define pockets which releasably receive the pivot members ofthe cover plates so that the cover plates may be rotated relative to thetrough.

A further aspect of the present invention relates to a hinge pedestalfor mounting a cover plate with a pivot member to a cable trough. Thehinge pedestal includes a base which supports an upstanding wall. Theupstanding wall defines at least one pocket sized to receive the pivotmember of the cover plate so that the pivot member of the cover plate isreleasably received in the pocket and so that the cover plate may berotated relative to the upstanding wall by rotation of the pivot memberwithin the pocket.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method of coveringa cable trough having two sidewalls. The method includes the steps ofproviding a hinge piece with a detent pocket and defining a U-shapedrecess, positioning the hinge piece on the sidewall so that the sidewallis received in the U-shaped recess, providing a cover plate having apivot member along at least one edge, and snapping the pivot member ofthe cover plate into the detent pocket of the hinge piece.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a cable troughand cover assembly according to the principles of the present inventionwith cover plate and hinge pieces.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the cover plate shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an end view of the cover plate of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the hinge piece of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an end view of the hinge piece of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a first side view of the hinge piece of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a second side view of the hinge piece of FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the hinge piece of FIG. 4.

FIG. 9 is a top view of the hinge piece of FIG. 4.

FIG. 10 is an end view of a second embodiment of a cable trough andcover assembly according to the present invention with hinge pieces onboth sidewalls of the trough, and fasteners.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a cable troughand cover assembly according to the principles of the present inventionwith two cover plates, hinge pieces, and an insert piece.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a cable troughand cover assembly according to the principles of the present inventionwith two cover plates positioned in a hinged insert piece.

FIG. 13 is an end view of the insert piece of FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a side view of the insert piece of FIG. 12.

FIG. 15 is a top view of the insert piece of FIG. 12.

FIG. 16 is an end view of the cable trough assembly of FIG. 11 withfasteners added to secure the hinge pieces to the sidewalls of the cabletrough.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to FIG. 1, cable trough assembly 100 is shown whichincludes a cable trough 110 having a base 112 and two sidewalls 114 and116. The assembly further includes a cover plate 118 and hinge pieces120. Hinge pieces 120 straddle sidewall 114 and receive cover plate 118so that a hinged joint is formed between the cover plate 118 and thehinge pieces 120.

The assembly 100 of the present invention allows the cover plate 118 tobe snap-fit into the hinge pieces 120 and adjustably positioned in openand closed positions relative to the cable trough 110. For instance, thecover plate may be laid in a closed position over the cable trough toprotect cables inside the trough. The cover plate 118 may then beconveniently pivoted by means of the hinge joint into an open positionto allow access to the trough interior. Because the cover plates aresnap-fit into the hinge pieces, the cover plate may be easily removedfrom or added to the assembly without the need for time consumingfasteners such as screws.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, cover plate 118 includes a generallyplanar member 122 having pivot members 124 disposed along opposite edgesof the planar member 122. The pivot members 124 are parallel, roundedposts. The planar member 122 of the cover plate 118 defines a pluralityof slots 126 along each pivot member 124. Except for the slots 126,cover plate 118 has a uniform cross section which permits a manufacturerto make the cover plates 118 by extrusion. Slots 126 may be punched outafter the cover plates 118 have been extruded.

Referring now to FIGS. 4-9, a hinge piece 120 according to the presentinvention is shown. Hinge piece 120 includes two opposed arms 132 and134 joined by a middle portion 136 to form a U-shaped recess 138. TheU-shaped recess 138 is sized to receive one of the sidewalls 114 or 116of cable trough 110. Hinge piece 120 also includes opposed extensionmembers 140 and 142 which define a detent pocket 144. The pocket 144 isshaped as a rounded channel. Bosses 146 protrude from the extensionmembers 140 and 142 toward an interior of the pocket 144. Pocket 144 issized to receive the pivot members 124 of the cover plate 118. The pivotmembers 124 can be snap-fit into pocket 144, and bosses 146 act as adetent to retain the pivot member 124 in pocket 144 and to allow thepivot member to be snapped out of the pocket 144. When cover plate 118is in its closed position as shown in FIG. 1, extension member 140 isreceived by slot 126 in cover plate 118.

Extension member 142 also includes a push tab 148. By pushing the pushtab 148, extension member 142 may be flexed away from extension member140 which assists in removing the pivot member 124 from pocket 144. Inthis way the cover plate 118 may be easily snapped out of the hingepiece 120. The cover plate 118, therefore, may be releasably positionedin hinge piece 120. This snap-fit option allows for improved flexibilityand efficiency over prior hinge systems requiring screws or fasteners.Tab 148 also functions as a stop to limit the rotation of the coverplate 118.

An inside surface of arm 134 of hinge piece 120 may also include aretaining tab 150 with a ramped surface 151. When the hinge piece 120 issnap-fit to a cable trough such as cable trough 110 shown in FIG. 1,retaining tab 150 opposes an edge 153 of flange 154 on sidewall 114 tohold the hinge piece 120 on the sidewall 114.

In the preferred embodiment, arm 134 of hinge piece 120 may define afastener window 155 for receiving a fastener. As shown in FIG. 10,fastener 158 may be used to more securely position the hinge piece 120on the cable trough 110. Fastener 158 includes a tightening knob 160 ona threaded bolt 162 secured to an opposing plate 164. The knob 160 andopposing plate 164 grip flange 154 and hinge piece 120 together.Alternative fasteners could be used such as screws or bolts. Thefasteners keep hinge pieces 120 from sliding longitudinally along cabletrough 110.

FIG. 10 shows an alternative embodiment cable trough assembly 200 wherea hinge piece 120 is placed on both sidewalls 114 and 116. In thisarrangement, cover plate 118 may be opened and pivoted in eitherdirection allowing access to the cable trough from either side. Anadvantage to this design is that the cable technician can access thecable trough interior by pivoting the cover away from the technician, nomatter which side of the trough the technician is standing.

FIGS. 11, 12 and 16 show alternative embodiments of the presentinvention which might be advantageously employed in relatively widecable troughs such as 12″ or 18″ wide troughs. FIG. 11 shows a cabletrough assembly 300 including a cable trough 310 with a base 311 andsidewalls 312 and 314. Two cover plates 118 and 118′. Each cover plate118 and 118′ is disposed in two hinge pieces 120 which couple the coverplates to the sidewalls of the trough. A hinge pedestal 320 is placed onbase 311 of trough 310 between sidewalls 312 and 314 to support freeends of the cover plates 118 and 118′. FIG. 16 shows the assembly 300 ofFIG. 11 with fasteners 158 added to help secure the hinge pieces 120 tothe cable trough 310.

Referring now to FIGS. 13-15, hinge pedestal 320 includes a base 322 andan upstanding wall or body 324 extending from the base 322. At its topend the upstanding wall 324 defines two detent pockets 326 and 328 forreceiving pivot members 124 of cover plates 118 and 118′. The pedestal320 may be secured to any desired flat surface. Pedestal may include anadhesive 330 on the planar bottom surface 332 of the base 322. Theadhesive 330 might be peel and stick adhesive pads, for instance.Alternatively, the base 322 may define fastener holes so that fastenerssuch as screws could be received through the fastener holes to securethe pedestal to the cable trough.

As shown in the assembly 400 of FIG. 12, cover plates 118 and 118′ maybe received by the pockets 326 and 328 of pedestal 320 so that the coverplates 118 and 118′ may be pivoted toward the middle of trough 310.

A significant advantage of the cover plates 118, hinge pieces 120 andhinge pedestals 320 of present invention, is that they can be insertedeasily into existing cable management systems, effectively retrofittingthe existing system. The snap-fit feature of the pivot members andpockets of the cover plates 118 and hinge pieces 120 and hinge pedestals320 allow covers to be added, opened, closed, and removed withoutresorting to time intensive fasteners.

With regard to the foregoing description, it is to be understood thatchanges may be made in detail without departing from the scope of thepresent invention. It is intended that the specification and depictedaspects of the invention may be considered exemplary, only, with a truescope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the broad meaningof the following claims.

1. A method of covering a cable trough, the method comprising the stepsof: a) providing a cover plate having a pivot member, and providing ahinge member having a recess shaped for receiving a sidewall of thecable trough; b) attaching the hinge member to the sidewall of the cabletrough; c) positioning the pivot member of the cover plate within apocket of the hinge member; d) rotating the pivot member within thepocket of the hinge member to cover or uncover the cable trough.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, further including positioning a portion of the hingemember within a slot formed through the cover plate.
 3. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the pivot member is a first pivot member and the hingemember is a first hinge member, and wherein the cover plate includes asecond pivot member positionable within a pocket of a second hingemember, the method further including rotating the second pivot memberwithin the pocket of the second hinge member to cover or uncover thecable trough, the first and second hinge members being located onopposite sidewalls of the cable trough.
 4. The method of claim 3,further including selectively snapping the first pivot member in and outof the pocket of the first hinge member to cover and uncover the cabletrough.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the first hinge memberincludes first and second arms that define the pocket, the methodfurther including pushing a push tab located on one of the arms to flexthat arm away from the other of the arms and releasing the first pivotmember of the cover plate from the pocket of the first hinge member. 6.The method of claim 1, wherein the pivot member is a first pivot memberand the hinge member is a first hinge member, and wherein the coverplate includes a second pivot member positionable within a pocket of asecond hinge member, the method further including rotating the firstpivot member about a first axis of rotation, and rotating the secondpivot member about a second, different axis of rotation.
 7. The methodof claim 1, wherein attaching the hinge member to the sidewall of thecable trough includes positioning a fastener through a hole formed inthe hinge member and fastening the hinge member to the sidewall of thecable trough.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein attaching the hingemember to the sidewall of the cable trough includes snap-fitting thehinge member to the sidewall of the cable trough.
 9. The method of claim1, wherein positioning the pivot member of the cover plate within thepocket of the hinge member includes snapping the pivot member within thepocket of the hinge member.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the hingemember includes a pedestal, the method further including positioning thehinge member at a central region within the cable trough.
 11. The methodof claim 10, further including adhesively secure a bottom surface of thepedestal to the cable trough at the central region.
 12. A method ofcovering a cable trough member to protect cables placed inside the cabletrough member, the cable trough member having two sidewalls, the methodcomprising: snapping a hinge clip onto a first sidewall of the cabletrough member, the hinge clip defining a socket; positioning a coverplate including a first pivot member over an open portion defined by thecable trough member; and snapping the first pivot member of the coverplate into the socket of the hinge clip to allow the cover plate topivot about the first pivot member between open and closed positions.13. The method of claim 12, further comprising: snapping a second hingeclip onto a second sidewall of the cable trough member, the second hingeclip defining a socket; and moving a second pivot member of the coverplate into the socket of the second hinge clip to place the cover platein the closed position.
 14. The method of claim 12, wherein the coverplate is a first cover portion, and the method further comprises:snapping a second hinge clip onto a second sidewall of the cable troughmember; positioning a second cover portion including a second pivotmember over the open portion of the cable trough member; and snappingthe second pivot member of the second cover portion into a socket of thesecond hinge clip to allow the second cover portion to pivot about thesecond pivot member of the second cover portion between open and closedpositions.
 15. The method of claim 12, further comprising providingmultiple hinge clips at intervals along the first sidewall of the cabletrough member.
 16. A cover and hinge assembly for covering cables placedin a cable trough member, the cable trough member having a base and twosidewalls, the assembly comprising: a hinge clip configured to bedetachably coupled to a first sidewall of a cable trough member, thehinge clip defining a receiving portion; and a cover plate including amain body having first and second ends, the cover plate including apivot member at the first end; wherein the pivot member is received inthe receiving portion of the hinge clip to allow the cover plate to bepivoted about the pivot member from an open position to a closedposition.